Valve.



C. A. ELLIS.

VALVE.

APPLIUALION FILED SEPT. 14-` w07.

Patented May 10, 1910.

UNITED STATES PTENT oEETcE,

CLIFFORD A; ELLIS, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD OIL COMPANY DF NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VALVE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1.9.10.

Application led September 14, 1907. Serial Ho. 392,861.

To all whom it Imay concern:

Be it known that. I, Current) A. Ennis, a citizen of the. United States, riding at Bayonne, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in valves, and more particularly to that class cf valves known as vacuum and pressure relief valves, and it has been especially designed for use in tanks and boilers and the like which have to be air tight. In such .tank and boilers the withdrawal, sud den or othervvise of their contents, causes a vacuum which unless relieved is apt to cause their collapse, and also the filling of the tank or boiler causes a pressure of the gas or steam therein which, unless relieved, 1s apt to result in the explosion of the tank or boiler. Furthermore, 1n oil and gasolene tanks, to which the invention is particularly applicable, any changes in temperature causes a. rise or fall in the internal pressure of the tank, owing to the expansion or contraction of the gases from the oil or gasolene, which expansion or contraction must be compensated for.

My invention has for its object. to provide a combined vacuum and pressure relief valve a of improved construction which shall. re-

lieve a vacuum or excessive pressure in tanks or boilers.

It is a further object of my invention to )rovide such a valve which shall he simple 1n construction, which shall be durable, and which shall be automatic in its action.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction, all the moving parts of which shall be concealed and inclosed, so that said moving parts cannot be tampered with, this being especially desirable in the case of -oil or gasolene tanks.

For n full understanding of the invention, s. detailed description of the same will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- -Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved vaive; Fig. 2 is a side view of the valve looking in the direction of the n rrow, Fig. '1; Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a top view.

Referring now to said drawing, the combined vacuum and pressure relief valve comprises un outer casing l. This casing l may be of any desirable configuration, and composed of any suitable material. Preferably, it will be composed Iof composition brass, and will be circular, as shown, the valve being used in a vertical position. 'The casing 1 is provided with openings 2, 3, these openings forming the inlet and outlet openings to the valve. Either the opening 2 or the opening 3 may be the inlet opening. In the particular construction shown, the opening 3 is the opening leading from the tank (not shown) to which the valve is to be applied, and therefore the inlet to the valve.

The casing is provided with an exteriorly, thredd portion 4: which is screwed to the tank and forms an air tight joint, a portion of the casing 5 above the thread being in the form of a nut to enable the casing to be screwed to the tank. The opening 2, which in this instance forms the outlet from 'the valve, is interiorly threaded, as shown at 6, to receive the threaded end of a relief pipe (not shown) which leads to the 'outer au'. The casing 1 is provided with a. removable threaded cap-piece 7, having a part 8 for-zniug a nut, by which the cap can be screwed to and unserewed from the casing.

All the moving parts of the improved valve are preferably positioned as shown within the casing 1, so that the valve can be buried under ground, as is especially desirable when it lis to he used fin connection with oil or gasolene tanks, and so that the moving parts cannot be tampered with. This construction, furthermore, is very oompact. The parts ofthe valve are assembled structed as-to seat snu ly, and, furtherfnore,`

so that the fvalve wil operate surely and automatically. There 'are provided, therefore, for performing theseV functions, ver- ,entirelv closinv the o eniiw.

tieally operating gravity valves, one of which valves has the funrtion of relievin a vacuna" in the reoeptutzle, and the other ot' which 'valves has this t'unrtion ot relieving any excess of pressure therein, these valves being so arranged that-while one ot` them is in operating or open positloinfthe other willl remain in closed or non-operating Aposi tioiu'and they are so constructed and arranged as to tit snufly and tightly in their seats and entirely close the openings controlled by them. The particular construction and disposition of these gravity valves may be somewhat varied. As preferred and shown there is provided a valve easing 9, this valve easin in the construction shown, being positionet '.vithin the outer valve rasing 1, and preferably formed integral therewith. This valve easing is hollonv and is provided with an opening in direct coniniunic'ation with the outer air, and in the particular instance illustrated through an openin f; 2 of' the outer easing 1. This valve casing 9, vas shown, is open. at its top or upper end, and is provided with an opening 12 at its bottom or lower end. The opening at the top and the opening 1Q at the bottom areeontrolled by the vertically operating gravity vacuum and pressure valves which will now be described. Either valve may, if desired, be arranged to perform the functions of pressure valve or vacuum valve.V

In the present, instaure, the pressure valve controls the openingv 12 and is in forni preferably a'ball 13, which ball is of the necessary size and weight to perform the funetions for which it is intended. The. inner bottoni wall of the valve casing 9 is beveled, as shown at14, to form a seat for the ball valve 13, the ball valve resiig snugly on thisseatand when seated tittirur ightly and flic upper edge 1'5 of the valvewasing 9 is beveled, as

shown at 16, t-o form a seat for the valve 17, which, in this instance, acts as the vacuum Valve. This valve is likewise a gravity valre,`being in the construction shown a lift. valve having a stein 18, which stem is 'adapted-.to Work in a hole or slot formed in the cap piece 7 of the casing 1, this hole or slot forminga guide loi the valve and prcventing it sli ping olf of its seat sidewise. This valve. 1l, when in its closed position,

y seats snugly and entirely closes the opening.

In order that the valve may o erate as a vacuum and pressure relief va ve, means mast be'previded whereby outer air may be permitted to have injgress to the tank or receptacle with which the Valve is used, and by which gases in the receptacle may have egress ltherefrom to the outer air. These means may be varied. ln the particular .construction shown, the valve easing 9 is so positioned within the outer casing l as to rorm'achamber 11, this chamber being loand eilicient means whereby the vaiuum and` pressure in the receptacle on which the valve is used may be controlled.

The operation of the combined vacuum and pressure valve will be readily understood from the foregoing description, but may be briefly described as follows, when used in connection with an oil or gasolene tank: .-'Xssnining the valve to be. in the position shown, namely, with the opening 3 leading to the tank with which the valve is tQ be used, and assuming the ressure in that tank to be X, the parts o the valve will be in the position shown. Now, it the contents of the tank are vvitlulrawn, a vacuuni will be formed, which vacuum must be relieved. As the contents are removed and a vacuum formed, air enters in through the opening '2, and raises the lift valve 17, passes through the chamber 11 and inlpt 3 to the tank, and relieves the vacuum. .Xs-soon as the pressurein the tank rises to X, the valve 17 then reseats itself and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 1. Non', assuming that the tank is empty, and that it is desired to till the saine, the valve will be in the position shown in Fig. l. As soon 115x100 the liquid enters the tank, the air or gas therein is compressed and pressure created therein. The ball valve 13 ,is than lifted from its seat, and the gas passes out through the opening Q to the relief pipe until the pressure in the tank is reduced to X, the pressure of the gas around the chain ber ll, and the weight of the valve itself, holding the valve 1T firmly on its seat. The pressure valve 13 and the vacuum valve 17 are of dimensions proportioned to the vacuum and the pressure which they are intend ed to relieve, the weights of the valves being increased or diminished according to the vacuum or pressure it is desired to maintain in the tank.

'While the valve has been described as particutarly ap lie-able for use. with oil and gasolene tanks for relievin air or gas pressure, it will be understoo that it can be used equally well with hot Water and steam boilers, or with other closed receptacles where it is desirable to relieve liquid pressure, and the invention is not t0 be limited to such particular use. It is to be further understood that the invention is not limited to the s eeic construction shown and described, ut that changes and variations may be made inthe same without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is :W l. ln a valve of the character described,

the. combination of :in outer casing having.

an outlet opening in direct. communication with the outer air, and an inlet opening, a valve casing locate-1l in said outer casing in direct communication with said outlet opening, said valve casing being spaced from said outer casing so as to form an inelosed chamberY` said valve casing being provided with openings in communication with said chamber, and vertically operating gravity valves closing said openings in the valve cas-A ing, one of said valves being arranged to open when the pressure in the chamber exceeds that in the valve casing and the other of said valves being arranged to open when the pressure in the valve casing exceeds that in the chamber,- substantial y as described.

2. .In 'a valve of the character described, the combination of an outer casing having an outlet opening in dii-ect communication with the outer air, and an inlet opening, a valve casing located in said outer casing in direct communication with said outlet opening, said valve casing being provided with openings and spaced from said outer casing to form an inclosed chamber in communication with the inlet opening of the outer casing and with the outlet opening of said casing through the openings in said valve casing, and vertically operating gravity valves closin said openings in the valve casing, one o said valves being arranged to' open when the pressure in the chamber exceeds that. in the valve casing and the other of said valves being arranged to open when the pressure in the valve casing exceeds that in the chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a valve of the character described, the combination of a valve casing in open communication with the outer air, an outer casing spaced therefrom to form an inclosed chamber, said valve casin being provided with openings in communication with said chamber, and vertically operating gravity valves closing said o eiiings, one of said valves being arrange to open when the pressure in the chamber exceeds that in .the casing, and the other of said'valves being arranged to open when the pressure in the casing exceeds that in the chamber, siibstantially as described.

4. In a valve of the character described, the combination of an outer'casin having an outlet openin in communication with the outer air, an an inlet opening, a valve casing located in said outer casing and in direct communication with the outlet of said outer casing, said valve casing being spaced from said outer casing toA form an inclosed ing the other opening in said valve casing, w

said valve having its seat on the valve casing and closing said second opening, said valve being arranged to open when the pressure in the valve casing exceeds that in the chamber, substantially as described.

y 5. ln a valve of the character described, the combination of a casing provided with inlet and outlet openings, a valve casing positioned in the outcr casing in direct communication with one of said openings, a chain? ber formed between the valve casing and the outer casing in direct communication with the other of said openings, said valve casing being provided with openings in communication with said chamber, -a lift valve having its seat on the valve casing for closing one of said openings, said lift valve being arranged to open when the pressure in the valve casing exceeds that in the chamber, and a ball valve having its seat in said valve casing for closing the other of said openings, said ball valve being arranged to o en when the pressure in the chamber excee s that in the casing, substantially as described.

` 6. In a valve of the character described, the combination of an outer casing having an opening in direct communication with the outer air, an inner valve casing integral with said outer casing and having an opening in its side in communication with the outer opening to the outer casing, said outer casing and said valve casing being spaced apart to forni a chamber, said valve casing,r beine' provided with vertically opposed n openings in its top and bottom 1n communication with 'the chamber, gravity valves closing said top and bottom openings in the valve casing.. one of said valves being arranged to open when the pressure in the chamber exceeds that in the valve casing and the other of said valves being arranged to open when the pressure in the valve casing exceeds that in the chamber, substantially as described.

Tn testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, CLIFFORD A. ELLIS. Witnesses P. B. Partire,

T. F. Kanon. 

